Police officer from Banstead, who worked at Hampton, gets suspended sentence for drug offence

A former police officer who took cocaine and gave someone a police uniform was handed a suspended sentence and community service order.

Michael Andrew Johnson, of Warren Road, Banstead, worked at Hampton Traffic Garage until May last year, when he resigned after he was found to have cocaine in his system.

An investigation by the directorate of professional standards found the 47-year-old supplied Zayn Corkett, 41, of Cherryleen, Kingswood, with a police uniform.

Corkett worked in a civilian role as a fleet manager in charge of police vehicles.

The pair were arrested in May last year and both admitted possession of class A drugs and misconduct in public office.

Johnson was also charged with theft of police property and Corkett with handling stolen police property.

Johnson was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended, and 180 hours of community service and Corkett was given a four-month suspended sentence and 120 hours of community service.

Both appeared at Croydon Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday, January 16.

Chief Superintendent Alaric Bonthron, MPS directorate of professional standards, said: “Police officers have to live by the highest standards, no criminal activity will be accepted and where we have evidence officers are behaving in a criminal way we will pursue them, resignation from the service will not stop criminal prosecution.”